hanghai International Studies University (SISU) welcomed its new students with flexible measures amid stable pandemic situation in China.

Though the pandemic has subsided in mainland China, providing students with possibilities to go back to campus, many universities in China including SISU still take some basic "social distancing" practices.

Zheng Hanyi, the consoler of the School of Journalism and Communication, introduced that they have taken various problems into consideration and have tried their best to avoid unnecessary indoor gathering. "Students are asked to wear masks and sit separately if the gathering amount has surpassed 50." she said.

Besides, this year, parents are not allowed to enter into the residential area, which means these young adults have to finish their registration and start their new life independently. "But I do not think this is a difficult task, the university had hired porters to help us move heavy packages and we can see enthusiastic volunteers everywhere. They are very helpful", Chang Junyi, a SISU freshmen said.

Except for local students, SISU also elaborately prepared for welcoming international students, who, because of the global pandemic, have to finish registration and take classes online. The welcome job for those students, who come from different countries with various cultural backgrounds, is not an easy task, especially for this year.

When it comes to the difficulties, both students and the faculty members mentioned "time difference". Wan Shiyun, the officer who are in charge of international student affairs at SISU said that the university took jet leg into consideration while arranging the courses. And such consideration has got high compliments among international students.

"I think that SISU paid close attention to prepare schedule which suits both in class and online students. When I first saw the schedule, because of time difference I was supposed to have some classes at 3 a.m. but then they changed and now it's earlier." Lusia Misurdova, a master student from Slovakia, said.

During the orientation week, SISU has hold a wide range of activities including a grand new students convocation and “the first class”, a SISU tradition which hosted by SISU’s university council chair, Dr. Jiang Feng, which aims to introduce university history and to impart inspirations to all the new students, marking the formal entrance of all the new SISU community members.